NOAA Weather Radio Modernization Act

This bill, titled the NOAA Weather Radio Modernization Act, would overhaul and expand NOAA’s weather radio program. It would create a nationwide NOAA Weather Radio network that operates continuously, is resilient to power and communications outages, and reaches areas with weak cellular or internet connectivity. The act calls for expanding coverage, modernizing technology (including shifting to IP-based communications and adding satellite or cloud-based dissemination), and improving the ability to issue geographically specific warnings. It would also transfer and rename the Weather Ready All Hazards Award Program, authorize substantial upfront funding for modernization, and require a series of assessments and planning efforts to ensure access and reliability. In addition to the radio modernization, the bill would require standards for flash‑flood emergency alert systems in the 100-year floodplain, and it would impose a new staffing and classification plan for NOAA personnel, including a 10-year staffing outlook for positions that support forecasts and warnings. Overall, the measure aims to make NOAA Weather Radio more widespread, reliable, and capable of delivering timely hazards information across a broader set of communication channels and geographies.